Teen Series | Finding Yourself by Forgetting Yourself

Senior School Reflection | Matthew 5: 1-12, 9th Wednesday of Ordinary Time, Year A, 2026

The sermon on the mount was Jesus’ great discourse on happiness: blessedness. When Jesus lists those who are blessed, he doesn’t speak of people with honour, wealth, power, or bodily goods (natural beauty and good health) as the happy ones. He points instead to the poor in spirit, the merciful, the peacemakers and those invested in the works of justice. These qualities redirect a person’s attention outward. They are not primarily focused on themselves, but on God’s work and the wellbeing of others. So at the heart of Jesus’ message, he teaches that those with intentions directed beyond themselves will find happiness. 

This message is very different from the one we hear today. Our culture constantly tells us that happiness is found by turning to the self. Feeling lost and without purpose? Take another holiday or buy the latest gadget or video game as what you currently have is outdated; perhaps what’s missing is another cosmetic product on the dresser. Based on your sex and preferences, satisfy one of these and you will feel whole again. So, we’re told that by turning inward rather than outward we will find happiness, a vision different which Jesus presents here.  

It’s okay to have any or all these things – wealth, honour, power, adventure. These are good in themselves. In fact the 19^th Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard said “purity of heart is to will one thing.” People are not wrong to pursue success, influence or achievement. We need good politicians, teachers, athletes, police officers, lawyers and other leaders. It’s how we use our gifts, talents and opportunities that matters: if directed towards God’s will and building up our community, they become a force for good and a source of genuine fulfilment. 

Last week I finished reading a book on Aging Well by George E. Vaillant, M.D. His 30-year research examined what contributes to happiness in later life. He found that happiness was not determined by whether a person was rich or poor, healthy or unwell.  Many people remained fulfilled when they moved beyond concerns about identity, intimacy, and career consolidation and instead focused on preserving the common good, giving unselfishly to the next generation and accepting life’s realities with integrity. It didn’t matter whether a marriage broke down, a person never found meaning in their work or suffered poor health. If these things happened, those whose outlook on life remained unselfish and who stayed true to themselves generally found greater satisfaction in life.

So, unlike modern culture, Goerges research reaffirmed Jesus’ position: happiness, it’s found when we orient our lives towards something greater than ourselves.

Shifting back to the Beatitudes. We should think of them as qualities visible in different people at different times. Some of you are naturally gifted at comforting those who are hurt or grieving. Others here are peacemakers who can deescalate situations when friends are bullied and relationships being ripped apart. No doubt we have some among us who have a great sense of justice and are willing to stand up for what is right for others and the school reputation, even when its unpopular.

These qualities are more apparent in some and less developed in others, but these are qualities Jesus wants us to cultivate. A person who is poor in spirit can learn to thirst for justice. A person who is a peacemaker can learn mercy. With a little experience, time, and maturity, we can cultivate all of them. 

Last Saturday, we had a moment of silence to honour the life of Neale Daniher, commemorating his legacy as a footballer, coach and great advocate for Motor Neurone Disease. He probably never imagined becoming a passionate advocate and fundraiser before his diagnosis. Perhaps it was through his own experience that he could understand more deeply what it meant to be poor in spirit. And so his hardships taught him something about human vulnerability, dependence and mercy for those who suffer. 

The point is that our life experiences shape us, and often they shape us into better human beings. A student who gets bullied often becomes really conscious about others who suffer from exclusion, moving them to show compassion and stand up for those suffering. 

What we have learnt today is that happiness comes when our attention is directed beyond ourselves. The beatitudes are established internally but expressed outwardly. While Jesus expresses his desire for us to be full of happiness in other teachings, this teaching of the Beatitudes is his way for us to achieve that.

The question for you then is this: Which Beatitude reflects most clearly in yourself?  And which one do you need to develop further? 

Junior Series | What comes first? A lesson for students on putting God first

 Junior School Reflection | Mark 12: 13 - 17, 9th Tuesday of Ordinary Time, Year A, 2026

 

What comes first in your life? Is it God, or something else that you love most, like football, another hobby, team, or person?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus faces some familiar enemies. They ask him a question with the intention of trapping him. “Master, we know you are an honest man…. and that you teach the way of God honestly.” At first, this sounds like praise, but really, it’s flattery - saying something nice to get what you want. Flattery can sound kind, but it can also be used to manipulate someone to make a mistake. In the case of the Gospel, Jesus’ enemies try making him feel super confident, so they can trap him with a weak response.

Then they asked Jesus a tricky question: “Is it okay to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay, yes or no?”

You might be wondering why this is problematic, and that is a very important and very smart question. You see Jesus’ questioners were hoping he would give an answer that would upset one side or the other, so that they could say Jesus said something wrong which would get him in trouble.  

For example, if Jesus said “no, you shouldn’t pay the Roman tax,” the Jewish people would be happy and rejoice; however, the Romans would recognise Jesus as a rebel and would deal with him harshly; if Jesus said “yes, you should pay your taxes,” his own people would turn against him, as they didn’t like paying tax to the Roman authority; so either way, the religious leaders thought they had trapped him, and that Jesus would be in trouble.

But Jesus answers with wisdom: “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God.”

So what does this mean?

This Gospel isn’t really about money or politics; it’s about real responsibilities to two sets of authorities: to God, who comes first, and to lawful rules of civil authority, which deserves our respect, so long as they don’t ask us to do what is wrong against God. Both should be honoured, but not equally.

Jesus’ enemies weren’t expecting a response like that; he escaped the trap.

This Gospel is a great lesson for school life.  “Should I pay tax to Caesar?” or “Must I obey the Roman authority?” is similar to asking: should I listen to my teachers and follow the lawful rules set around the school grounds by Mr Todd? The answer is yes. Why? We owe what is due to our teachers and Mr Todd as representatives of the school; when we do that, we show them respect and we live with integrity, especially since their rules do not ask us to do something that God forbids. Good rules help keep us safe.

At the same time, and before school… before rules… before anything else, we belong to God, so our first duty is to “Give to God what belongs to God.” Do I pray? Do I tell the truth? Do I do what is right? Do I respect my teachers and Mr Todd’s instructions? The answer must always be yes: because that is what belongs to God.

Before you were born, before you were even formed in your mother’s womb, you were a thought in God’s imagination. Before you even came to school, your parents taught you to respect them, to show them kindness and other people the same… much of what you learn about doing right is connects with the Ten Commandments which come from God.

It’s because of your instruction in God, your love for him first, you are able to do what you’re supposed to for the people in charge of our school, and that’s part of being a responsible student.  

So, our obligation to civil authority like Mr Todd, is not equal to God, in the sense that it is our ultimate allegiance; however, our duties at school are real, but God remains first. Jesus’ message to the people who tricked him applies to us today. If we put God first, we can, without fear, let everything else fall into place.

So, what comes first in your life?

Let’s pray for the courage to do what is right and put God first in our lives, always. Amen.

FURTHER READING

For a similar reflection but on a different Gospel, click the link below:

• Investing in Jesus is the safest Gamble of all

Teen Series | Jesus' high priestly prayer: a valuable lesson for students on the splendor of unity

Senior School Reflection | Gospel of John 17: 11 - 19, 7th Wednesday of Easter, 2026, Year A

Last week Years 7-9 students played a great game of football. We won the first game, lost the second, then smashed the third. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to the finals due to percentage. But that’s okay, because by the end of the third game we had played so well as a team that we came off the field feeling good about the end result and confident in our performance; we saw it in the way they celebrated. That was a win in itself. When I think about those games, the word that comes to mind is unity: a team working together as one. 

So what does unity mean? It means wholeness, completeness, one. When people are united, they work together; when the mind, heart, and soul are in harmony, the body and its nervous system functions well. For Aristotle, unity had several applications: unity of being (metaphysics); poetics (drama); time and place; and politics. The application most suited for communities is politics: the way school communities organise themselves and the rules they set. Many benefits arise from being a united body of people. Last week we played well as footballers; that was a sign of unity. Hopefully next term, when Grades 5 and 6 give their stage performance, spectators will go away feeling impressed, the students performing will feel a sense of accomplishment and pride, and everyone involved will feel uplifted. Unity therefore is an important value for any community to pursue. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus makes a pastoral prayer to the Father, and the essence of his prayer is also unity. The key word that denotes unity is the Greek word ἕν (hen), translated as “one”: “so that they may be one like us.” The motivation behind this prayer is found both in context and within the text itself. The prayer is spoken on the night of the Last Supper, and Jesus says: “But now I am coming to you… I say these things.” Jesus knew that his disciples would face fear, division, temptation and abandonment soon after his death. There are several things Jesus asked the Father to do to keep them united: that the disciples be protected from the evil one, and that the Father sanctify them in the truth. 

The Christian life is not a call to a passive existence but to a public witness of holiness, hence Jesus’ prayer: “I am not asking you to remove them from the world but to protect them.” It can be difficult to be a witness. The very nature of the world is often opposed to the way of Jesus, who represents everything that is right and true. This can make our presence vulnerable and cause us to want to flee at times. Fleeing can be of a physical nature – where we take our actual selves out of a conflicting situation – but it can also include an interior withdrawal: not standing up for what is right in the face of injustice. A perfect example of how disunity affects a group is the recent turmoil at the Carlton Football Club surrounding the sacking of coach Michael Voss. One of our ex-students, Harry Dean, spoke about the effect it had on him in an interview. The issue was not whether Voss was a good coach or not; he became a symbol of division because some supported him and others did not. That fractured the footy team, and they struggled to win games. The week after he left the club, they won their second game of the year. So, disunity affects the way we function. 

For our school, we want to be a community where every student, teacher, and staff member is on the same page: walking together in unity as a School and supporting one another. Last week, however, an incident occurred where we failed to do that. When we came back from the footy, we were asked to walk quietly to the sport’s building. On the way, some students played loud music on a portable speaker. This went against the instruction to walk quietly and caused fallout: the students were publicly reprimanded, which took the shine off what had been an enjoyable day. In a small but real way, disunity entered the fold when we had all been on the same page to act together as one.

So our individual and collective commitment to each other is important for the stability, unity, and wellbeing of our school. When we are tempted to become a source of disunity, Jesus reminds us in his pastoral prayer to be one as he is one with the Father. In this prayer we find strength and hope in the face of temptations that divide us.

Teen Series | Abide and Belong: Finding Your Identity in Christ

 Senior School Reflection | Gospel of John 15: 1 - 8, 5th Wednesday of Easter, 2026, Year A

There was once a college student named Tom who was loved by his peers. Nothing about him seemed unusual except for one thing. Tom had a large red birthmark that ran from one eye, down his face, across his mouth, down his neck, and onto his chest.

One day, a close friend finally asked him, “Tom, can I ask you something? How did you ever overcome the emotional pain of having a birthmark like that?”

Tom answered without hesitation. “It’s because of my dad,” he said.

He explained, “When I was young, my dad would point to my birthmark and say, ‘Son, this is where an angel kissed you. He wanted to mark you out just for your dad. You’re very special to me.’

“He told me that so often that I began to believe it. And now,” Tom said with a smile, “I sometimes feel sorry for my friends who don’t have a birthmark — because they don’t have something that reminds them every day that they are claimed and loved.

That story matters today for us —not because the Gospel is about birthmarks, or settling for less but because Jesus is giving us something even deeper than a daily reminder. He is giving us a vital connection. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus paints a clear picture of our relationship with him, it’s not just about improvement. He says that he is the vine and we are the branches. A branch does not give itself life. It does not decide where it grows or how it receives nourishment. Its role is simple but essential: to remain connected. Jesus does not merely say, “try harder.” He says, in effect, “remain. Abide.” Which can be hard at times. 

Jesus reminds us of a spiritual law: when a branch abides in the vine, it bears fruit; when it separates, it withers. This is why Jesus insists so strongly on that vital word “abide.” Because without him we can do nothing. 

Think of a football team. The team is not self-generated The coach sets the agenda and the training, and the players shows up; they don’t just simply comply, they follow the program so the team’s life can do what it’s meant to do. When they’re united with the coach’s plan in the deep sense of a shared life: showing up, learning the plays, living the discipline, the team flourishes. When one breaks that connection, when he stops showing up, behaves unruly, he performs poorly and eventually stops being part of the vine of the team. 

Like the story of Tom, this Gospel is about acceptance. Not about “accepting your role” or accepting to resign ourselves”, or “settling for less” but accepting the fact that your wellbeing is dependent on another. You are not a self-contained island. Jesus invites us to accept by letting him be the source. We are not the vine. We are not the source. We do not make the rules or decide the direction. We are created by God, sustained by him, and invited to draw life from him. When we accept that reality rather than resist it, growth always follows.

This call to acceptance is not restrictive, nor is it forced upon us. It is an invitation. Jesus invites us to remain close to him, to draw from him as the source of our strength, direction, and identity. He knows what will help us flourish, and he invites us daily to live according to his word a word that calls us to love, holiness, and obedience.

In our school context, these three ideas take very practical forms.

Love begins with basic respect for one another: listening, showing courtesy, and being disciplined in our work. It includes having self-respect. Thomas Aquinas wrote that we cannot truly love others unless we first recognise and value our own worth. In practical terms, that means caring for ourselves, protecting our own wellbeing from harm and knowing this is good and must be preserved as a value. From there we can extend this same good beyond ourselves, carefully looking out for each other, ensuring that the person beside us is safe and respected.

Holiness is about being faithful to the Christian values of this school. It is lived through honesty, consistency, and integrity — choosing what is right even when it is unnoticed or inconvenient. Sometimes it looks like accepting limits and living responsibly: making sure what you share online is safe, true and respectful of your reputation and the school.

Obedience is about being faithful to what is asked of us. In the Gospel, obedience means walking in the footsteps of Jesus, and in John 15 Jesus links abiding to keeping his word: if you abide in me, and my words abide in you. At school, obedience looks like listening to teachers, committing to learning, and trusting that those guiding you are invested in your growth — academically, personally, and spiritually: so remember to pull up your socks, and tuck your shirts in. 

I’m confident that many here already try to remain connected to Christ as branches of his vine by being present, responsible, respectable and ready to learn and apply what you discovered through that process. However, the message to take away today is sharper and deeper than “sticking to the rules.” It is this:

Where we resist abiding?  

What habits, distractions or attitudes that pull you away from the vine of Christ? 

What gets in the way of embracing your role here at school? What prevents you from trusting that you are already known, claimed, and loved?

What might you need to change so that Christ’s words can truly abide in you? 

The story of Tom reminds each of us that we are claimed and loved by God the Father, a love clearly revealed in the Son’s sacrifice on the cross and expressed in the love between a parent and child. Like a branch on the vine, fruitfulness comes not from striving to be a self-contained island, but from staying connected to the source of life, Jesus. When we accept who we are and whose we are, growth always follows as beloved branches in the vine of Christ, children of God the Father, and some of the best students to walk through the school gates.

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Junior Series | An essential good: Jesus' peace. A lesson for students from John's Gospel

Junior School Reflection, Gospel of John 14: 27 - 31, 5th Tuesday of Easter, 2026, Year A

Note: reflection posted one day prior to the liturgical day. 

In this Gospel, Jesus is with the disciples, who are His best friends. Not on Good Friday, not after His resurrection, or after He went to heaven; but the night before He dies. Jesus knew his friends would be sad and scared when He’s gone, just like when a friend or a special family member moves away and you feel alone. However, Jesus says “Don’t be afraid, I’m going to my Father in heaven, and everything will be okay.” Isn’t that nice thing to say to your friends?

Later, when Jesus died, some ran away confused (like the road to Emmaus, Lk 24: 13 – 33). Others felt anxious because bad people hated Jesus and his followers (like Pentecost, Act 2: 1). Jesus saw this coming, so He promised: Peace I leave you, My peace I give to you, not like the world’s peace.”

What makes you feel peaceful? think of a yummy apple: round, juicy, red or green, true apple goodness. It tastes delicious and fills your stomach, making you feel happy. Or you teacher: not someone who you can eat but they know cool stuff, keep you safe, help you learn; true and good right? Good things make us happy and peaceful inside. 

Jesus is the best good thing; He is true like no one else. His words and actions (love others, be kind, pray) are perfect. When He says, “My peace I give you,” He means: Remember me! Follow my ways and you will feel My peace, no more fear or alone feelings. I’ll always be with you.” A wise old scholar, Thomas Aquinas, said peace fills happy hearts with good thing s- like Jesus lives in your heart. Isn’t that a wonderful saying for us all?

When you leave chapel today, try this: when scared, say “Peace, Jesus is with me!” Remember to share kindness with a friend. You’ll feel happy and peace.

 

Jesus,

thank You for true goodness and peace.

Help us remember You always,

especially when we feel confused, scared or alone.

Amen.”

WANT TO READ MORE?

For a similar reflection on peace, click on the link below:

• When life doesn't make sense: a lesson from the Annunciation

Junior Series | Our undivided attention: a lesson from Jesus to students on how to pray

 Junior School Reflection | John 17: 1 - 11, 7th Tuesday of Easter, 2026, Year A

Note: reflection posted thirty-five days prior the liturgical day.

Who likes to watch football? Okay, many of you but not everyone. Who likes to go to the cinema? Almost everybody.

 

When we watch football or go to the cinema, do we distract ourselves by playing with a phone or talking during the important parts? No, because if we do, we miss things. To watch properly, you have to be attentive to what is happening. You don’t just “be in a room;” you are really watching.

 

Prayer is like that.

 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus does something very simple and very important: “When Jesus had spoken these words, he raised his eyes to heaven and said: ‘Father…’”  St Thomas Aquinas explains that there is a difference between our prayer and Jesus’ prayer. Our prayer usually arises from a place of need, while Christ’s prayer is more for our instruction, because there was no need for him to pray for himself in the way we do. Jesus is the Son, and in union with the Father, he is heard. So when Jesus prays, he is teaching us how to pray.

 

What is Jesus instructing us here?

 

Jesus’ prayer shows that our words should follow our actions. Prayer includes attention, reverence and turning towards God, just as Jesus did when he lifted his eyes to heaven.

 

When we give God our attention, we show him reverence; we show him the respect he deserves. God has given us life, good experiences, and the chance to be loved. We might have bad days and feel down sometimes or even get hurt, but God is with us even when life is hard. Because God has given us these good things and the joy that comes from being loved, we give God the reverence he deserves, and we do this by being attentive in prayer. 

 

It’s the same in the classroom. We owe our teachers a similar kind of respect that comes with attentive listening just as we give God our reverent attention.  When you give teachers your undivided attention, you show them reverence; we are not worshipping them but instead showing them the respect and honour they deserve. Like God, our teachers respond to your needs; they know that a good education will help you to learn and grow. They teach you to build your vocabulary, put words into sentence structures, and then help you write essays as you progress through each stage. All this is good stuff for flourishing. So, it pays to give your teachers your undivided attention just like Jesus did in his prayer to the Father.

 

Can we conclude that this passage is only about attention and focus? Not at all.

 

After Jesus shows us how to pray with attention, he teaches us that prayer is also a relationship. He calls God “Father.” Prayer is not a shout into the darkness. This reminds us again of praying like Jesus did: simply and from the heart. It’s talking to someone who loves you. We learn this because when we call someone “father” or “mother,” we know they try their best to love us. In the same way, God is someone we can speak to, someone who loves you and cares about you. God is not far away from you.

 

Lastly, Jesus shows us that we pray with a purpose.

 

Prayer is not an act where we fill the silence; all of a sudden, the film has finished, the game is over, we don’t fill that void with something else to do. We pray for important things in prayer. It’s not always please, please, please, please. Sometimes prayer is about trusting in God’s plans, and asking for what is good. In John 17:1-5, Jesus asked his Father to glorify him. What does this mean to us? It means to let his own actions shine in the world so that others might see the works of the Father through him. We should also learn to ask for this kind of glorification too. We need to ask God to help our actions shine so that others may recognise the works of the Father. Jesus also prays for other people and not only for himself, so we learn intercession. It is good to pray for others; while we are here praying, many people do not pray at all. This means they may not even pray for themselves, so we pray for their peace and wellbeing.

 

So this week, lift up your eyes to heaven and pray for someone. But remember prayer is: to God the Father, with focused attention, with trust, and love for everyone around you.

FURTHER READING

Want to learn more about prayer? Click the link below:

• Praying like Jesus did: simply and from the heart
• In Jesus name we pray

Teen Series | When life doesn't make sense: A lesson from the Annunciation

Highschool Reflection | Luke 1: 26-38, 6th Wednesday of Lent, 2026, Year A

Note: Reflection published four days prior to the liturgical day.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation that made little sense at the time, only to realise later that it carried a deeper purpose? If that does not resonate with you, it has nonetheless been the pattern of my life. Several years ago, my formation for the priesthood ended abruptly; after seven years of living the vow of poverty in humble obedience, I found myself with almost nothing and shown the door. 

Thankfully, a parishioner nearby offered me temporary refuge for a semester in her non-compliant attic so that I could complete one unit of study while working part-time. However, towards the end of the academic semester, I could sense my host was eager to show me the door as she valued her solitude and didn’t want a long-term tenant. Alongside the studies and work, I searched for employment and accommodation and before I knew it, I found myself renting a room in the country, working on a dairy farm nearby, feeling even more confused. “What am I doing here on a farm?” I wondered. The wage was thin, rent high, and before long I was evicted, only to discover that I had also lost my job. This drove me further into the country, where I slept on a new friend’s couch before eventually settling into a converted chook pen. Even there, exposed to the cold from the nearby river and poorly sealed against the winter, I could not make sense of my circumstances.

The confusion was sharpened by what had come before. At the end of my Bachelor of Science, I was awarded a generous scholarship to pursue a master’s degree. It was sufficient to clear my personal debts and allow me to enter the seminary without delay. Yet seven years later, I found myself no longer in formation but effectively destitute. None of it aligned with the path I had imagined. Like Mary in the Gospel, I found myself asking, “What does this mean?”

In today’s reading, Mary is troubled by the appearance of the angel Gabriel, who brings good news that defies all natural expectations: that she, a virgin, will conceive: “But how can this come about?” she asks. Yet despite the bewilderment and uncertainty, her response is one of extraordinary trust: “Let what you have said be done to me.”

This Gospel reveals that moments of confusion and disruption are not outside the scope of God’s will. When our plans collapse and the present seems incoherent, these very circumstances may be the place where God is at work. At times, life may feel stable and predictable; yet just as quickly, it can be overturned, redirecting our course in ways we neither expect nor desire. In such moments, our Christian response is not despair, but to hold firm in the will of God with faith, hope, and charity, like Mary our model, trusting that even the most unexpected experiences can be gathered in God’s providence.

As school students, even though our experience at high school is of a very high standard, we are not exempt from the disruptions of life: like students in different uniforms in the neighbouring area, we too may feel emotionally low to the point of needing external support. We may also miss out on selection when things seem to be proceeding smoothly or find ourselves injured through an unforeseeable accident. These life’s episodes can throw us off course, forcing us to reconsider original plans that often introduces fear and anxiety due to the uncertainty of moving forward. 

At other times, the disruption is far more serious when we might lose a loved one; it might be a grandparent, a friend, or even someone closer to home. Experiences like these shake us deeply, yet they need not define us. Instead, they can become opportunities in which we rediscover God’s will in our own lives, and learn to accept, with humility, that they are part of a greater plan. Like Mary, who gave the world the Christ child, we too can allow God to use those moments for good, even to the point of changing the course of history, whether here in our school community or beyond the college’s boundary. 

So, what does God have in mind for us? We just keep searching, listening, and be open to saying yes allowing God to work through us to change the world for a better place. 

FURTHER READING

For another reflection based on the same Gospel passage in a different series, click on the link below

• Nuh Yeh Nuh Yeh Nuh Yeh: Embrace the Unexpected and Say 'Yes' to God